Reclining chair of the multiple movement type



RECLIMNG #CHA-IR @F "mE Mmmm-PLE ifMovEMENT 'MRE Filed sept. J14, y1959 .June 11, 115963 5P. fs. FLETCHER *viril-ill.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR.

:PETER M5.. FLET ,nf-zwaluw:

.June .1'51, A11963 P. s. FLETCHER 3,093s408 :RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTI-PLE yMCJSIV'IEMENT /14 /7/ @4 y JNVENTOR.

PETER 6. FLETCHER.

June.' 1,1.,y 1.963 Pf. s. FLETCHER 3,093,408

RECLININQ CHAIR oF TME MULTIPLE: MOVEMENT TYPE.

Filed Sept.. 14,. 1959 8s Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

/74 /f /fg /z /7/ w JNVENTOR. PETE@ `5, FLETCHER.

BY I

June 11, 1963 P. s. FLETCHER 3,093,408

.RECLINING CHAIR OF' THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.7.

INVENTOR. PETE@ 6. FLETCHER BY j June 11, 1963 P. s. FLETCHER 3,093,408

RECLTNING CHAIR oF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE June 11; 1963 P. s. FLETCHER 3,093,408

RECLTNTNG CHAIR oF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. Il.

INVENTOR. PETER `S- FLETCHER,

BY Aw/J d? Tran/vers June 11, 1963 P. s. FLETCHER 3,093,408

RECLTNTNG CHAIR 0E THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 F1o. n3. W

I4. f/f FIG IN V EN TOR.

PETER 6. FLETCHER HTTORNEYS June 1l, 1963 P. s. FLETCHER 3,093,408

RECLINING CHAIR OF' THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. l5.

INVENTOR. PETE/, 5. FLETCHER,

Trek/Veys United States Patent O 3,093,408 RECLINDIG CHAIR UF THE MULTIPLE MVEMENT TYPE Peter S. Fletcher, Delray Beach, Fla., assiwor to Anton Lorenz, Geean Ridgeoynton Beach, Fla. Filed Sept. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 839,666 9 Claims. (Cl. 297-85) The present invention relates to reclining chairs, and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the type including body supporting means having a movable backrest and movable seat which are coordinated with each other to include at least two distinct phases of chair movement. This is a continuation-impart of my earlier iiled application Serial No. 676,534 l(now abandoned) tiled August 6, 1957 and entitled Reclining Chairs.

Heretofore there has been available two distinct types of reclining chairs, those constructed with a rigid bodysuppor-ting unit including a unitary back-rest and seat and those constructed with a movable back rest and movable seat. Chairs of the type incorporating a rigid or unitary back-rest and seat were found to be most suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in la tilted back position, but in a sitting attitude While chairs of the type incorporating a movable back-rest and movable seat were found to be most suitable for complete and full relaxation in that the angle between the back-rest and seat was opened up or increased incident to reclining movement of the chair such that the chair occupant would be accommodated in a stretched out or fully reclined attitude.

Of recent times lthere has been developed a reclining chair which exhibits attributes of both types of cha-irs which have heretofore been sold, to wit those suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a semi-reclined or tilted back attitude and -those suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a fully reclined or complete relaxation attitude. In such multiple movement chairs there is a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate position during which there is substantially no angular displacement between the back rest and the seat, with the leg-rest of the chair moving to an elevated leg-supporting position for supporting the legs of the chair occupant in the intermediate tilted position; and there is a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position to the fully reclined position during which the angle between the seat and back-rest opens up, with the leg-rest remaining in an elevated leg-supporting position appropriate to establish a complete relaxation or fully reclined attitude for the chair occupant.

It is not an object of the present invention to provide a reclining chair of the aforesaid type having two distinct two movement phases making the same suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a semi-reclined or tilted back attitude or in a fully reclined complete relaxation attitude.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chair of the double-movement type which comprises a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest adapted to be mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and means movably mounting the body-supporting means on the support for la first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from the tilted position to a reclining position. The mounting means includes a first linkage for guiding the body supporting means for movement from the sitting position to the tilted position and a second linkage for guiding the body-supporting means for movement from the tilted position to the reclining posi- "ice tion. The second linkage includes the support as a stationary link thereof, movable links including a carrier link and means pivotally mounting the carrier link on the Support at a carrier pivotal mount adjacent the rearward end of the carrier link. rIhe first linkage includes the carrier link as the stationary link thereon, movable links including the seat and means movably mounting the seat on the carrier link. The back-rest is pivotally mounted on the seat and means are provided for connecting the back-seat `to one of the movable links of the second linkage.

The above brief description as well as further objects1 features and advantages yof the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several presently preferred illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the present invention, with the chair in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chair occupant;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a further embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the present invention, with the chair in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg supporting position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. 5, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chair occupant;

FIG. 7 is av side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a still further embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the vpresent invention, with the chair in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 7, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position wherein' the back-rest and seat have been `anigularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for t-he chair occupant;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational View, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a still further embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the present invention, with the chair in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 10, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1l, but `showing the reclining chair in `a fully reclined position wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chair occupant;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a still further embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the present invention, with the chair in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 13, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position; and,

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 14, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chair occupant.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a support or frame 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by suitable cross braces 18 and supported on depending legs 20.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 22 and a seat 24 are movably mounted on the support 12 for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a rst movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position illustrated in FIG. 2 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted position illustrated in FIG. 2 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 24 is a leg-rest 26 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a first elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 2 and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 3. As will 4be described, the leg-rest is coordinated to the back-rest 22 and the seat 24 for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the rst movement phase of the chair, with the leg-rest 26 remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moved from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 3.

A mounting arrangement, generally designed by the reference numeral 28, is provided for guiding the backrest 22 and seat 24, during the first and second movement phases. The mounting `arrangement includes a first linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the sitting position to the tilted position and a second or control linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the tilted position 'to the reclining position. Since the first linkage which is operative during the first movement phase is built onto the second or control linkage in the mounting arrangement 28, it will facilitate the understanding of the invention if the second or control linkage is described first.

Specifically, the second or control linkage includes a carrier link 30 which is pivotally mounted on the support 12, the carrier link 3() remaining stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2, and moving during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. The carrier link 30 is pivotally mounted on the support 12 at a carrier pivotal mount 32 adjacent the rearward end of the carrier link 30 and contiguous to the rearward end of the chair frame or support 12. At its front end, the carrier link 30 is connected to the support by a mounting link pair including a mounting link or plate 34 having a stationary pivotal Amount 36 on the support at the cross brace 18 and a connecting link 38 having a pivotal connection 40 at its lower end to the mounting plate or link 34 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 36 and a pivotal connection 42 to the carrier link 30 at a point spaced from ythe carrier pivotal mount 32. As seen in FIG. 1, the mounting plate or link 34 rests upon the cross brace 18 serving as a stop for maintaining the carrier link 30 in a prescribed `attitude in relation to the support. It will be appreciated however, that the mounting plate 34 may turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 36 during the second movement phase and in response to the actuation of the second guiding linkage to cause the carrier link 30 to turn in the clockwise direction about its rear pivotal mount 32 on the support, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 4and 3. From the foregoing, it will be seen that -the second or control linkage includes links 30, 38 and 34 which remain stationary relative to each other during the first movement phase (compare FIGS. 1 and 2). The links 30, 38, 34 provide three movable links of a four bar linkage which includes as the station- .ary link thereof the portion of the support between the pivots 32, 36. The links 30, 38, 34 of the control linkage move relative to each other during the second movement phase (compare FIGS. 2 and 3).

Built onto the second linkage is the first linkage which includes the carrier link 30 as the stationary link thereof. Specifically, the seat 24 carries a depending rigid mounting plate 44 which has a pivotal mount 46 at its lower end on a depending extension 30a of the carrier link such that the seat may turn about the pivotal mount 46 as the relatively stationary pivot thereof during the first movement phase. Further, the seat carries a rearwardly directed hanger arm 48 upon which the back-rest 22 is mounted at a back-rest pivot 50.

Provision is made for coupling the back-rest 22 which is mounted on the seat 24 to one of the movable links of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, a depending bracket 52 is secured to the lower end of the back-rest 22, which bracket 52 is coupled to the mounting plate or link 34 by a back-rest link 54 which has a pivotal connection 56 at its forward end to the link 34 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 36 and a pivotal connection 58 at its rearward end to the lower end of the depending bracket 52.

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg-rest 26 is mounted for movement into the several elevated leg-supporting positions by a leg-rest mounting linkage, generally designated by -the reference numeral 60 which is of the type disclosed and described in my copending application, Serial No. 771,991 filed November 5, 1958 and entitled Adjustable Reclining Chair With Coordinated Leg- Rest Control Means. Specifically, the leg-rest mounting linkage 60 includes a guiding link 62 which has a pivotal connection 64 at its topper end to the carrier link 30 and a pivotal connection 66 at its lower end to a con- :trol link 68 which extends forwardly toward the leg-rest 26. A pair of depending links 70, 72 are pivotally mounted at spaced pivotal connections 74, 76 on the front end of the control link 68, with the link 70 having an upwardly directed integral projection 70a. The leg-rest linkage further includes a further pair of links 78, 80 having respective pivotal connections 82, 84 at their forward ends to the leg-rest at spaced points thereof. The link 78 crosses behind the link 70 and has a pivotal connection 86 at the cross-over point. Further, the link 78 has a pivotal connection 88 at its rearward end to the link 72, while the link 80 has a pivotal connection 90 at its rearward end to the lower end of the link 70. The upstanding extension 70a of the link 70 which projects upwardly above the pivotal connection 74 serves as an actuating means and has a pivotal connection 92 to the seat 24, which pivotal connection 92 along with the pivotal connection 64 move rearwardly in response to the pivotal movement of the seat 24 about the seat pivot 46. The leg-rest mounting linkage 60 is completed by a guiding link 96 which has a pivotal mount 98 on the front end of the carrier link 30 and a pivotal connection 100 s to the control link 68 intermediate the ends thereof.

The pivotally interconnected links will be recognized as providing a lazy tong type of mounting linkage which is effective to extend and elevate the leg-rest 26 in responseY to movement of the seat 24 about the seat pivot 46.

Appropriate stops may be provided to establish several positions of the chair, as is generally understood. Speciiically, the carrier link 3i) carries a stop 102 which abuts against the depending extension 44 of the seat 24 to preclude counterclockwise movement of the extension 44 about the seat pivot 46, there being a tendency for the extension 44 to bear against the stop 102 incident to the counter-balancing eifect of the leg-rest 26 and the leg-rest mounting linkage 66. A further stop 164 is moun-ted on the carrier link in position to abut the actuating or guiding link 62 after the latter has turned through a prescribed arc `about the pivotal connection 64 whereupon the leg-rest mounting linkage 60 is eiiectively made rigid with the carrier link 30 for the second movement phase. Finally, as seen in FlG. 3 the rear cross brace of the chair frame is adapted to abut the lower end of the backrest 22 to establish the fully reclined position for the chair.

For a better understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made to a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is sea-ted in the chair and presses rearwardly in the body-supporting unit, the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 turn about the seat pivot 46 on the carrier link 30. The back-rest 22 is guided by the back-rest link 54, with the pivotal connection 56 to the mounting plate or link 34 serving as a relatively stationary pivot for guiding the back-rest 22 during the iirst movement phase. By the selection of the location of the pivotal connection 56 in relation to the location of the seat pivot 46, it is possible to arrange for substantially no relative movement between the back-rest 22 and the seat 24 during the irst movement phase or, if desired, to obtain some compensating movement between the backrest 22 and seat 24 if desired. It for example the pivots 46, 56 were made coaxially with each other, there would be no relative movement between the back-rest and seat during the iirst movement phrase. in the position selected for the pivot 56 in relation to the pivot 46, there is substantially no angular change between the back-rest 22 and seat 24, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2. During the inclining movement of the seat 24, an upwardly directed actuating force is imparted to the leg-rest mounting linkage 66 via the pivotal connection 92 which tends to move the leg-rest 26 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 2, with the movement of the leg-rest linkage 60 being blocked incident to contact of the guiding link 62 with the stop 104.

During the second movement phase, the seat 24-and the leg-rest mounting linkage 60 becomes a unitary assembly with `the carrier link 3i) for all intents and purposes. However, the back-rest is capable of turning about the back-rest pivot Sii on the hanger arm 48. Specifically, as the chair occupant places weight against the back-rest 22 there is a tendency `for the back-rest 22.to move rearwardly, pivoting about the back-rest pivot `5t) and the backrest imparts a forwardly directed thrust via the link 54 to the link pair 34, 36 of the second movement linkage which tends to turn the link 34 in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 36. The second movement phase continues until such time as the back-rest 22 is blocked against further rearward movement, which occurs in this illustrative embodiment when the back-rest 22 abuts the rear cross brace of the chair frame or support. During the second movement phase, the Iblocked leg-rest mounting linkage 60 maintains the leg-rest 26 and seat 24 in the same relative position, although the general level of the leg-rest and seat is displaced upwardly incident to the movement of the second movement phase linkage.

When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright or sitting position, `the occupant leans torwardly such that the back-rest, seat and leg-rest move through the reverse sequence of operations, with the chair irst moving into the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 and then being returned to the upright sitting position of FIG. 1.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a second embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral which includes a support or Jframe 112 having opposite side ywalls 114, 116 interconnected by suitable cross braces 118 and supported on depending legs 120.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 122 and a seat 124 are movably mounted on the support 112 for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a tirst movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the intermediate til-ted or semi-reclined position illustrated in FIG. 5 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted position illustrated inl FIG. 5

through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 124 is a leg-rest 126 which is `mounted for movement froma stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 4, to a first elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 5 and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 6. As will be described, the leg-rest 126 is coordinated to the back-rest 122 and the seat '124 `for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the rst movement phase of the chair, with the legrest 1.26 remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves Ifrom the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5 to the `fully reclined position of FIG. 6i.

A mounting arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 128, is provided for guiding the backrest 122 and seat 124, during the iirst and second movement phases. The `mounting arrangement includes a iirst linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the sitting position to the tilted position and a second or control linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the tilted position to the reclining position. Since the tirst linkage which is operative during the lirst movement phase is built onto the second or control linkage in the mounting arrangement 128, it will facilitate the understanding of the invention if the second linkage is described lirst.

Specifically, the second or control linkage includes a carrier link 130 which is pivotally mounted on the support 112, the carrier link 130 remaining stationary during the iirst movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5, and moving during the second movement phase -as may be appreciated [by progressively inspecting FIGS. 5 and 6. The carrier link 130 is pivotally mounted on the support 1'12 at a carrier pivotal mount 132 adjacent the rearward end of the carrier link and contiguous to the rearward end of the chair frame or support 112. Adjacent its front end, the carrier link 130 is connected to the support by a lmounting link pair including a mounting link 134 having a stationary pivotal mount 136 on the support at the cross brace 11S and a connecting link 138 having a pivotal connection 140 at its lower end to the mounting link 134 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount z136 and a pivotal connection 142 to the carrier link 1301 at a point spaced from the carrier pivotal mount 132. As seen in FIG. 4, the mounting link 134 rests upon a cross brace 119 serving as a stop `for maintaining the carrier link `130 in a prescribed attitude in relation to the support. It will be appreciated however, that the mounting link 134 may turn in the counterclock'wise direction 'about the pivotal mount 136 during the second movement phase and in response to the actuation of the second guiding linkage to cause the carrier link 134i to turn in the clockwise direction about its rear pivotal mount 132cm the support, las may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. and 6. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the second or control linkage includes links 130, 138 and 134 which remain stationary relative to each other during the first movement phase (compare FIGS. 4 and 5). The links 130, 138, 134 provide three movable links of a four bar linkage which includes as the stationary link thereof the portion of the support between the pivots 132, 136. The links 139, 138, 134 of the control linkage move relative to each other during the second movement phase (compare FIGS. 5 and 6).

Built onto the second or control linkage is the lirst linkage which includes the carrier link 130 as the stationary link thereof. Specifically, the seat 124 carries a depending rigid extension 144 adjacent the forward end thereof. Extending between the lower end of the extension 144 and the front end of the carrier link 130 is a front guiding link 146 which has a pivotal mount 148 at its upper end on the carrier link 130 and a pivotal connection 150 at its lower end to the extension 144. Operatively connected between the rear end of the seat 124 and an ntermediate point of the carrier link 130 is a rear guiding linkage which includes a tirst guiding link 152 and a second guiding link 154 having their adjacent ends connected at `a pivotal connection 156, with the first guiding link 152 having a pivotal mount 158 on the carrier link 130 and with the second guiding link 154 having a pivotal connection 160 to the rearward end of the seat. In the upright or sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 4, the rear guiding links 152, 154 are disposed at the rearward side of a dead center position. A constraining link 162 extends rearwardly from the guiding link 154 and has `a pivotal connection 164 at its forward end to the link 154 intermediate the ends thereof and has a pivotal mount 166 at its rearward end on the carrier link 130` at a point rearwardly of the pivot 158. In response to the first movement phase, the rearward movement of the pivotal connection 160 relative to the pivotal mount 166 causes the guiding link pair 152, 154 to move through and past the dead center position. During the initial movement of the rear guiding linkage from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the dead center position there is a substantially horizontal and rearward guiding action imparted to the seat 124; and after the rear guiding linkage moves through the dead center position, there is a sharp lowering of the rearward portion of the seat incident to the continued movement through the first movement phase. By progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be observed that the body supporting means is lowered at its rearward end but not appreciably displaced rearwardly relative `to the chair frame or support 112 after movement through the first movement phase. A stop 168 is fixed to the carrier link 130 in position to labut the constraining link 162 of the rear guiding linkage to establish the end of the first movement phase, as shown in FIG. 5. As seen in FIG. 4 the stop 168 is also positioned to abut the linkage pair 152, 154 when disposed to the rearward `side of the dead center position in the sitting position of the chair to establish the sitting position of the chair.

Fixed to the seat and projecting rearwardly therefrom is a hanger arm 170 upon which the back-rest 122 is mounted for pivotal movement about the back-rest pivot 172. Provision is made for coupling the back-rest 122 to one of the movable links of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, a depending bracket 174 is secured to the lower end of the back-rest which bracket is coupled to the mounting link 34 by a back-rest link 176 ywhich has a pivotal connection 178 at its forward end to the mounting link 134 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 136 thereof and a pivotal connection 180 at its rearward end to the lower end of the depending bracket 174.

In this illustr-ative embodiment the leg-rest 126 is mounted for movement into the several elevated leg-supporting positions by a hanger arm 182 rigid therewith and having a pivotal mount or connection 184 at its upper end 8 to the forward end of the seat 124. The leg-rest 126 is actuated through the provision of a lever 186 which has a pivotal mount 188 at its upper end on the carrier link or plate and is coupled to the leg-rest 126 by a first connecting link 190 which has a pivotal connection 192 at its forward end to the leg-rest and a pivotal connection 194 at its rearward end to the lower end of the lever 186. The guiding link in turn is coupled to the rear guiding linkage for the first movement phase by a second connecting link 196 which has a pivotal connection 198 at its for Ward end to the lever 186 intermediate the ends thereof and a pivotal connection to the link pair 4152, 154 coaxially with the pivotal connection 156. In response to the forward movement of the pivotal connection 156 incident to the actuation of the linkage mechanism 152, 154, 162 it will be appreciated that a forward thrust is imparted to the connecting link 196 which swings the lever 186 in the clockwise direction -about its pivotal mount 188 on the carrier link and moves the leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position.

For a better understanding of this illustrative embodiment according to the present invention, reference will be made to a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and presses rearwardly in the body-supporting unit, the seat 124 moves rearwardly and into `an inclined position, with the forward portion of the seat being guided by the front guiding link 146 which turns in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal amount 148 on the carrier link 130 and with the rearward portion of the seat being guided first rearwardly and then sharply downwardly incident to the actuation of the linkage mechanism serving as the rear guide means during the first movement phase. Incident to the forward displacement of the pivotal connection 156 intermediate the links 152, 154, the leg-rest 136 is swung into the elevated leg-supporting position. The pivotal connection 178 of the back-rest link 176 is selected in relation to the instantaneous center of rotation of the seat guiding linkage for the first movement phase such that there will be substantially no change in the relative positions of the back-rest 122 and seat 124 during the first movement phase. The end of the first movement phase is established when the link 162 comes into Contact with the stop 168, as shown in FIG. 5.

During the second movement phase the seat 124 and the leg-rest 126 become substantially a unitary assembly with the carrier link 130. However, the back-rest turns .about the back-rest pivot 172 on the hanger ar-m 170 of the seat 124 when weight is placed against the back-rest. The turning movement of the back-rest is coupled to the second movement phase linkage via the back-rest link 176 which turns the mounting link 134 in the counterclockwise direction about its pivotal mount 136 on the support. This turning movement of the mounting link 134 is transmitted to the carrier link 130 via the link 138 displacing the unitary assembly of the carrier link 130 and the seat 124 and the leg-rest 126 to a further tilted position shown in FIG. 6 with the angle between the seat 124 and the back-rest 122 opening up to establish the fully reclined or complete relaxation position for the chair. When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright or sitting position, the occupant leans forwardly such that the back-rest 122, the seat 124 and the leg-rest move through the reverse sequence of operations, with the chair lirst moving into the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5 and then returning to the upright sitting position of FIG. 4.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawings, there is shown a still further embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 210, which includes a support or frame 212 having opposite side walls 214, 216 interconnected by suitable cross braces 218 and supported on depending legs 220.

Body-supporting means linclud-ing a back-rest 222 and a seat 224 are movably mounted Kon the support 212 for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a first movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position illustrated in FIG. 8 and -for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted position illustrated in FIG. 8 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 9. Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 224 is a leg-rest 226 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 7, to a first elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 9.

A mounting arrangement, generally designated lby the reference numeral 228, is pro-vided for guiding the backrest 222 and seat 224 during the first and second movement phases. The mounting arrangement includes a first linkage for guiding the body-supporting `means from the sitting position to the tilted position and a second or control linkage for guiding the ybody-supporting means from the tiltedposition to the reclining position. Specifically, the second or control linkage includes a ycarrier link 230 which -is pivotally mounted on the support 212, the carrier link 230 remaining stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 7 and 8, and moving during the second phase as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 and 9. The carrier link 230 is pivotally mounted on the support 2l2 at a carrier pivotal mount 232 adjacent the rearward end of the carrier link and contigaious to the rearward end of the chair frame or support 212. At its front end, the carrier link 230 is connected to the support 212 by a mounting link pair including a mounting link 334 having a stationary pivotal mount 336 On the support at the cross brace 218 and a connecting link 238 having a pivotal connection 240 at its lower end t-o the mounting link 334 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 336 and a pivotal connection 242 to the carrier link 236 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 232. As seen in FIG. 7, the mounting link 334 rests upon a stop 219 on the cross brace 21S which maintains the carrier link 230 in a prescribed attitude in relation to the support. It will be appreciated however, that the mounting link 334 may turn in the counterclockwise `direction about the pivotal mount 336 during the second movement phase and in response to the actuation of the second linkage to cause the carrier link 236` to turn in the clockwise direction about its rear pivotal mount '232 on the support. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the second or control linkage includes links 230, 238 and 334 which remain stationary relative to each other during the first movement phase (compare FIGS. 7 and 8). The links 23), 238, 334 provide three movable links of a four bar linkage which includes as the stationary link thereof the portion of the support between the pivots 232, 336. The links 230, 238, 334 of the control linkage move relative to each other during the second movement phase (compare FIGS. 8 and 9).

Built onto the second or control linkage is the first linkage which includes the carrier link 230 as the stationary link thereof. Specifically, the seat 224 is pivotally connected `to the carrier link by a front guiding link 244 which has a pivotal connection 246 at its lower end to the front portion of the seat and 'the pivotal connection 248 at its upper end to the front end of the carrier link 23). Connected between the seat 224 and the car rier link 230 is a rear guiding linkage which includes first and second guiding links 259, 256 which have their adjacent ends pivotally connected together at a knee pivot 254. As seen in FIG. 7, the links 250, 256 are disposed forwardly of a dead center position, with the guiding link 256 resting against a stop pin 322 secured through the carrier link 230. The first -guiding link 256` has a pivotal mount 258 Ion the depending extension 23th: of the carrier link 230 and the second guiding link 256 has a pivotal connection 266 to the rearward portion of the seat. The first and second guiding links 250, 256 and l@ their respective pivotal connections will lbe recognized as providing a toggle linkage mechanism, which lupon movement of the knee pivo-t 254 in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 258 and out of alignment with the pivotal connection 260, brings about a rapid lower-ing of the rearward portion of the seat 224.

The seat carries a rearwardly directed hanger arm 262 which is rigid therewith and upon which the back-rest 222 'is mounted a back-rest pivot 264. The back-rest 222 is provided with a depending rigid bracket or extension 266 which serves to couple the back-rest to one of vthe movable links of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, a back-rest link 263 is provided which eX- tends between the depending extension 266 and the mounting link 334 and has a pivotal connection 270 at its forward end to the mounting link 334 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 336 thereof and a pivotal connection 272 at its rearward end to the depending bracket 266 on the back-rest.

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg rest 226 is mounted beneath the seat by a leg-rest mounting linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 274, of the extensible lazy-tong type which includes a first pair of links 276, 278 having ltheir adjacent ends pivotally connected at 280, a second pair of links, 232, 284 having their adjacent ends pivotally connected at a pivot 236 and a third pair of links 288, 296 having adjacent ends pivotally interconnected at a pivot 292. The link 276 is pivotally mounted on the seat 224 coaxially with the pivotal connection 246 and crosses in front of the link 234 and has a pivotal connection 294 thereto. The link 278 crosses behind the link 233 and has a pivotal connection 296 thereto intermediate its ends and a pivotal connection 293 at its forward end to the leg-rest 226. The link 282 has a pivotal connection 36th at a point spaced from its upper end to the seat 224, while the link 290 has a pivotal connection 32 to the leg-rest at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 298.

The leg-rest mounting linkage 274 `and the rear guiding linkage for the first movement phase are both actuated through the provision of a double-arm actuating lever 304 which has a pivotal mount 3ii6 on the seat 224. The upper or short arm of the actuating lever 304 is coupled to the carrier link 230 by a constraining link 308 which has a pivotal `connection 316 to the lever i394 and a pivotal connection 312 at its upper end to the carrier link 23o. The lower or longer arm of the double-arm lever 364 is coupled both to the toggle linkage mechanism 254i, 256 and to the leg-rest mounting linkage 274. Speci` cally, the first connecting link 314 extends between the knee pivot 254 and the lower arm of the lever Sil/4 and has a pivotal connection to the knee pivot 254 at its rearward end coaxially therewith and a pivotal connection 316 at its forward end to the lever 304. A second connecting link 3l8 extends between the lever 364 and the upward extension of the link 282 and has a pivotal connection at its rearward end `coaXially with the pivotal connection 316 and a pivotal connection l324)` at its forward end to the upper end of the link 282.

For a better understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in `chair 2li) and pushes rearwardly, the seat 224 inclines rearwardly relative to the support, being guided in its movement by the front guiding link 244 which turns in the counterclockwise direction about the relatively stationary pivotal mount 248 on the carrier link 234i. Simultaneously, the rearward portion of the seat is rapidly lowered by movement of the toggle linkage mechanism 250, 254. The back-rest 222 is guided during the first movement phase by its connection to the seat 224 and the guiding action attained via the back-rest link 268 which turns about the pivotal connection 27h on the link 334 as a stationary pivot. The instantaneous center of rotation for the seat guiding linkage of the first movement phase is selected in relation to the location of the pivotal connection 270 such that there is substantially no relative movement between the back-rest 222 and the seat 224 during the movement of the chair from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the intermediate tilted position illustrated in FIG. 8. Incident to the rearward displacement of the seat 224, the double-arm actuating lever 304 turns about its pivotal mount 206, with the long arm intermediate the pivotal mount 206 and the pivotal connection 316 turning in the counterclockwise direction. Turning of this arm in a counterclockwise direction imparts a rearwardly directed thrust via the connecting link 314 to the toggle linkage mechanism 250i, 256 to initiate the first movement phase. Further this rearward turning movement of the arm of the double-arm lever 304 causes a rearwardly directed pulling force to be imparted to the upper end of the link 282 which turns the arm thereof intermediate the pivotal connections 286, 300 in the clockwise direction through an upward and forward arc which is effective to move the leg-rest 226 to the elevated and extended leg-supporting position. The end of the first movement phase is established by the contact of the seat with the stop 322 fixed to the carrier link 33t), as shown in FIG. 8.

During the second movement phase, the seat 224 and the leg-rest mounting linkage 274 become a unitary assembly with the carrier link 230, but the back-rest 222 is capable of turning about the back-rest pivot 264. -As the chair occupant places weight against the back-rest 224, the backrest turns about the back-rest pivot 264 which imparts a forwardly directed thrust via the backrest link 268 to the link pair 334, 336 of the second movement phase linkage which turns the link 334 in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 336. The second movement phase continues until such time as the back-rest 222 contacts the rear cross brace of the chair frame or support 212 and during such second movement phase the seat 224 and leg-rest 226 are maintained in the same relative position in respect to each other, but are displaced generally upwardly relative to the chair frame as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 and 9. When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright or sitting position, tbe occupant leans forwardly causing the chair componen-ts to move through the reverse sequence of operations.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. l to 12 of the drawings, there is shown a still further embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 410, which includes a support or frame 412 having opposite side walls 414, 416 interconnected by suitable cross braces 418 and supported on depending legs 420.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 422 and a seat 424 are movably mounted on the support 412 for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a first movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. l() to the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position illustrated in FIG. 11 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted position illustrated in FIG. 1l through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 12. Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 424 is a legrest 426 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. l0, to a first elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 1l and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. l2.

The leg-rest is coordinated to the back-rest 422 and the seat 424 for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the first movement phase of the chair, with the leg-rest 426 remaining substantially lin the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 1l to the fully reclined position of FIG. l2.

A mounting arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 428, is provided for guiding the backrest 422 and seat 424 during the first and second movement phases. The mounting arrangement includes a rst linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the sitting position to the tilted position and a second or control linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the tilted position to the reclining position. Specitically the second or control linkage includes a carrier link 430 which is pivotally mounted on the support 412, the carrier link 430 remaining stationary during the first movement phase, as may lbe appreciated lby progressively inspecting FIGS. 10 and ll and moving during the second movement phase as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 11 and l2. The carrier link 430 is pivotally mounted on the support 412 at a carrier pivotal mount 432 adjacent the rearward end of the carrier link and contiguous to the rearward end of the chair frame or support 412. At its front end, the carrier link l430 is connected to the support 412 by a mounting link pair including a double-arm mounting lever 434 having a stationary pivotal mount 436 intermediate its ends on the support at the cross brace 418 and a connecting link 438 having a pivotal connection 440 at its lower end to the arm 43411 of the mounting lever 434 and a pivotal connection 442 to the carrier link 430 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 432. As seen in FIG. l0, the mounting lever 434 rests upon the cross brace 418 serving as a stop for maintaining the carrier link 430 in a prescribed attitude in relation to the support. It will be appreciated however, that the mounting lever 434 vmay turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 436 during the second movement phase and in response to the actuation of the second linkage to cause the carrier link 430 to turn in the clockwise direction about its rear pivotal mount 432 on the support. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the second or control linkage includes links 430, 438, 434, 464 and 470 which remain stationary relative to each other during the first movement phase (compare FIGS. l0 and ll). The links 430, 438, 434, I464 and 470 provide five movable links of a six bar linkage which includes as the stationary link thereof the portion of the support between the pivots 432, 436. The links 430, 438, 434, 464 and 470 of the control linkage move relative to each other during the second movement phase (compare FIGS. l1 and 12).

Built onto the second or control linkage is the first linkage which includes the carrier link 430 as the stationary link thereof. Specifically, the sheet 424 is mounted on the carrier link toward the front end thereof yby a front guiding link 444 which has a pivotal connection 446 at its upper end to the front portion of the seat 424 and a pivotal connection 448 at its lower end to the front portion of the carrier link 430. Disposed rearwardly of the front guiding link 444 is a double-arm lever 450 which has a pivotal mount `452 intermediate the ends thereof on the carrier link 430. The arm 450a of the double-arm lever serves as a rear guiding link for the seat 424 during the first movement phase and has a pivotal connection I454 to the seat 424 at a point spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection 446. The seat is guided during the first movement phase by a four-bar linkage wherein the portion of the carrier link 430 intermediate the pivotal mounts '448, 452, serves as the stationary link thereof and wherein the ,front guiding link 444, the portion of the seat 424 intermediate the pivotal connections 446, 454, and the rear guiding link 450a serve as the movable links thereof.

The back-rest `422 is mounted on the seat 424 by a forwardly directed hanger arm 456 rigid with the backrest and mounted at the rear of the seat 424 at a backrest pivot '458. In this illustrative embodiment, the second movement phase is completed by a back-rest link 460 which has a pivotal connection 462 at its upper end to the bracket 456 on the back-rest 422 and is coupled to the arm l43411 of the mounting lever 434 by a connecting link 464 which has a pivotal connection 466 at its forward end to the arm 43'4b and a pivotal connection 46S at its rearward end to the back-rest link 460. EX- tending between the pivotal connection 468 and the pivotal mount A442 for the carrier Alink 430 is ya guiding link l470 which has its upper end mounted coaxially with the carrier link pivot 432 and has its lower end mounted axially with the pivotal connection 46S intermediate the links 460, 464.

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg-rest 426 is mounted beneath the seat 424 by a leg-rest mounting linkage of the extensible lazy tong type which includes a iirst pair of links having as one link thereof the arm 450k of the double-arm lever and las the second link thereof a link I474 pivotally connected to the link or arm 450b at the pivotal connection 476, a second pair of links 478, 489 having their adjacent ends pivotally connected at a pivotal connection y482, and the third pair of links 484, 486 having their adjacent ends pivot-ally connected at a pivotal connection 438. The link 478 has -a pivotal mount 488 at its upper end on the forward end of the carrier link `and crosses the link y474 and has a pivotal connection 496 thereto. The link 48) intermediate its ends passes behind the link A484 and has a pivotal connection 492 thereto, with the link 480 having a pivotal connection 494 at its -forward end to the leg-rest 426. lFinally, the link 436 has a pivotal connection 496 at its forward end to the leg-rest 426' at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 494. As the double-arm lever 450 turns about its pivotal mount 452 in response to the rearwardly directed turning force on the -a-rm 45011 thereof, the arm 45% will swing through a `forward and upward arc thereby moving the leg-rest v426y to the elevated leg-supporting position.

Appropriate stops are provided for establishing several positions for the chair. In this illustrative embodiment a stop 498 is fixed to the carrier link 430 behind the guiding link 45011 and contacts the same at the end of the lirst movement phase for blocking movement of the seat 424 relative to the carrier link 430. The fully reclined position of the chair is established by the provision of the stop '500 on the'fframe forwardly of the double-arm mounting lever 434 in position to abut the `arm 434b thereof in the fully reclined position of the chair as shown in FIG. 12.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this embodiment of the invention a typical sequence of operations will be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and pushes rearwardly, the seat is guided rearwardly to an inclined position by the `four-bar guiding linkage of the first movement phase until such time as the rear guiding link 45951 abuts the stop 498. During this movement the back-rest is appropriately guided such that there is substantially no angular change between the seat and backrest. During this guiding movement, the back-rest 422 is guided by the back-rest link 460` turning about the pivotal connection 463 which is positioned in relation to the instantaneous center of rotation of the seat 424 such that there is substantially no relative movement between the back-rest and seat. Incident to the rearward turning movement of the arm 45011 about the pivotal mount y452, the arm or link 45017 swings in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 452 to bring the legrest 426 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position.

During the second movement phase the seat 424 and legrest mounting linkage 472 become a unitary assembly with the carrier link 430 Ibut the back-rest is capable of turning about the back-rest pivot 458i. Thus when the chair occupant continues to push against the back-rest, the backrest continues its turning movement and via the back-rest link 44o and the coupling link 464 brings about the actuation of the second movement linkage to establish the fully reclined position yfor the chair shown in FIG. 12.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 13 and 15 of the drawings, there is shown a still further embodiment of a reclining chair ldemonstrating -features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 510, which includes a support or lframe 512 having opposite side walls 514, 516 interconnected by suitable cross brace-s 518 and supported on depending legs 520.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 522 and a seat 524 are -movably mounted on the support 512 for reclining and inclining movements respectively yfor a iirst movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 13 to the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position illustrated in FIG. 14 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted position illustrated in FIG. 14 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. l5. Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 524 is a leg-rest 528 which is mounted for movement from -a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 13, to a first elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 14 and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. I15. The leg-rest 528` is coordinated to the back-rest `522 and the seat `524 `for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the first movement phase `of the chair, with the legrest 528 remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting .position as the chair moves from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 14 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 15.

A mounting arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 560, is provided -for guiding the backrest 522 and seat 524 during the iirst and second movement phases. The mounting arrangement includes a rst linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the sitting position to the tilted position and a second or control linkage for guiding the body-supporting means `from the tilted position to the reclining position. Speciiically t-he second or control linkage includes a carrier link 530 which iS pivotally mounted on the support 512, the carrier link 531i remaining stationary during the first movement phase, as may -be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 13 and 14, and moving during the second movement phase as may be appreciated Iby progressively inspecting IFIGS. `14 and 15. The carrier link '530 is pivotally mounted on the support `512 at a carrier pivotal -rnount 532 adjacent the rearward end of the carrier link and contiguous to the rearward end of the chair frame or support 512. At its front end, the carrier link 530l is connected to the support by a mounting link pair including a double-arm mounting lever 534 having a stationary pivotal mount 536 on the support and a connecting link 538 having a pivotal connection 542 at its upper end to the arm 534a of the mounting lever 534 Iat a point spaced from the pivotal mount 5361and a pivotal connection 543 at its lower end to the carrier link 530 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount `532. As seen in tFIG. 13, the carrier link `530 rests on the cross rail 518 as a stop. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the second or control linkage includes links 53), 538 yand 534 which remain stationary relative to each other during the irst movement phase (compare FIGS. 13 and 14) The links 536, 538, 534 provide three movable links vof a four bar linkage which includes as the stationary link thereof the portion of the support between the pivots 532, 536. The links 530, 4538, 534 of the control linkage rnove relative to each other during the second movement phase (compare FIGS. 14 and 15).

Built onto the second or control linkage is the first linkage which includes the carrier link 530 as the stationary link thereof. Specifically, the seat 524 carries a depending rigid extension 544 which has -a pivotal mount 546 at its lower end on the carrier -link 536 such that the seat may turn about the pivotal mount 546` as the relatively stationary pivot thereof during the first movement phase. Further, the seat carries a rearwardly directed hanger `ar-m 548 upon which the back-rest 522 is mounted at a back-rest pivot 550.

Provision is made for coupling the back-rest 522 which is mounted on the seat S24 to one of the movable links of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, a depending bracket 552 is secured to the lower end of the Aback-rest 522 which bracket is coupled `to the arm 534b of the mounting lever S34 by a back-rest link 554 which has a pivotal connection 556 at its forward end to the lever 534 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 536 and a pivotal connection 558 at its rearward end to the lower end of the depending bracket 552.

In this illustrative embodiment the leg-rest S28 is mounted beneath the seat by a leg-rest mounting linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 560, of the extensible lazy tong type which includes a first pair of links 562, 564 having their adjacent ends pivotally connected at 566, a second pair of links 568, 570 having their adjacent ends pivotally connected at a pivot 572 and a third pair of links 574, 576 having `adjacent ends pivotally interconnected at a pivot 580. The link 562 is pivotally mounted on the carrier link 530 at a pivotal mount 58) and crosses the link 570 and has a pivotal connection 582 thereto.

The link 564 crosses the link 574 and has a pivotal connection 584 at its forward end to the leg-rest. The link 568 has a pivotal mount SSS at a point spaced from its upper end to the link 574 and the link 570 has a pivotal connection at its forward end to the carrier link 530, the link 576 has a pivotal connection 592 to the legrest at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 586. The leg-rest mounting linkage 560 is `actuated by coupling the upwardly extending arm or extension `of the link 568 to the depending extension 544 of the seat 524 by provision of a connecting link 594 having a pivotal connection 596 at its forward end to the link 568 at a point spaced above the pivotal mount 588 and a pivotal connection 598 at its rearward end to the extension 544 at a point spaced above the seat pivot 546.

For a better understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made to a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and presses rearwardly in the body-supporting unit, the seat 524 turns about the seat pivot 546 on the carrier link 530. The back-rest 522 is guided by the back-rest link 554, with the pivotal connection 556 to the mounting lever 534 serving as a relatively stationary pivot for guiding the back-rest 522 during the first movement phase. The location of the pivot 556' is selected in relation to the location of the seat pivot 546 such that there is substantially no relative movement between the backrest 522 and the seat 524 during the first movement phase. During the rearward displacement of the seat and backrest, a rearwardly directed pulling force is imparted to the leg-rest mounting linkage 560 via the connecting link 594 which tends to move the leg-rest to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 14, with the movement of the leg-rest linkage being blocked incident to Contact of the extension S44 with a stop 600 provided on the carrier link S30.

During the second movement phase, the seat 524 and the leg-rest mounting linkage 560 becomes a unitary assembly with the carrier link 530 for all intents yand purposes. However, the back-rest is capable of turning about the back-rest pivot 550 on the hanger arm S48. As the chair occupant pushed against the back-rest 522, there is a tendency for the back-rest 522 to pivot rearwardly about the back-rest pivot 550 which via the back-rest link 554 turns the lever 534 in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 536. The second movement phase continues until such time as the back-rest 522 is blocked against further rearward movement which occurs in this illustrative embodiment when the back-rest 522 abuts the rear cross brace of the chair frame or support.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

l. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movements respectively, and mounting means operatively connected to said body-supporting means and to said support and mounting said body-supporting means for a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted sitting position with a substantially fixed angular relationship between said back-rest and seat and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted sitting position to a fully reclined position with an increase in the angular relationship between said back-rest and said seat, the mounting means including a carrier link, means pivotally mounting said carrier link on said support at a carrier pivotal mount adjacent the rearward end of said carrier link, seatguiding means movably mounting said seat on said carrier link, means pivotally mounting said back-rest on said seat at a back-rest pivot, a control linkage including said carrier link and said links which remain stationary relative to each other during said rst movement phase, the links of said control linkage being movable relative to each other during said second movement phase and operatively connected to said support, said carrier link being stationary during said first movement phase and together with said supportserving as the stationary link of said mounting means during said first movement phase, back-rest guiding means including at least one link operatively connecting said back-rest to one of said other links of said control linkage and operative during said first movement phase to maintain said fixed angular relationship between said seat and back-rest, and means for blocking movement of said seat-guiding means relative to said carrier link at `the end of said first movement phase such that said seat and carrier link are rigid relative to each other during said second movement phase and serve as one movable link of said control linkage, the links of said control linkage moving relative to each other during said second movement phase to increase the angular relationship between said backrest and said seat.

2. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said seat-guiding means includes a direct pivotal mount for said seat on said carrier link.

3. A reclining chair according to claim l wherein said seat-guiding means includes front guiding means pivotally mounted on said carrier link and pivotally connected to said seat and rear guiding means pivotally mounted on said carrier link and pivotally connected to said seat.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movements respectively, and mounting means operatively connected to said body-supporting means and to said support and mounting said body-supporting means for a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted sitting position with a substantially fixed angular relationship between said back-rest and seat and for a second movement phase from said intermediate titled sitting position to a fully reclined position with an increase in the angular relationship between said back-rest and said seat, the mounting means including a carrier link, means pivotally mounting said carrier link on said support at a carrier pivotal mount adjacent the rearward end of said carrier link, seat-guiding means movably mounting said seat on said carrier link, means pivotally mounting said back-rest on said seat at a back-rest pivot, a control linkage including said carrier link and other links which remain stationary relative to each other during said first movement phase, the links of said control linkage being movable relative to each other during said second movement phase and operatively connected to said support, said carrier link being stationary during said irst movement phase and together with said support serving as the stationary link of said mounting means during said irst movement phase, back-rest guiding means including at least one link operatively connecting said back-rest 'to one of said other links of said control linkage and operative during said first movement phase to maintain said fixed angular relationship between said seat and back-rest, means for blocking movement of said-guiding means relative to said carrier link at the end of said rst movement phase such that said seat and carrier link are rigid relative to each other during said second movement phase and serve as one movable link of said control linkage, the links of said control linkage moving relative to each other during said second movement phase to increase the angular relationship between said back-rest and said seat, a leg-rest, and leg-rest mounting and actuating means operatively connected to said legrest and to said bodyJsupporting means for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said first movement phase.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 4 wherein said seat-guiding means includes a direct pivotal mount for said seat on said carrier link.

`6. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movements respectively, and mounting means operatively connected Ito said body-supporting means and to said support and mounting said body-supporting means for a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted sitting position with a substantially fixed angular relationship between said back-rest 'and seat and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted sitting position to a fully reclined position with an increase in the angular relationship between said backrest and said seat, the mounting means including a carrier link, means pivotally mounting said carrier link on said support at a carrier pivotal mount adjacent the rearward end of said carrier link, seat-guiding means movably mounting said seat on said carrier link, said seatguiding means including respective front and rear guiding means, means pivotally mounting said back-rest on said seat at a back-rest pivot, a control linkage including said carrier link and other links which remain stationary relative to each other during said lirst movement phase, the links of said control linkage being movable relative to each other during said second movement phase and operatively connected to said support, said carrier link being stationary during said tirst movement phase and together with said support serving as the stationary link of said mounting means during said first movement phase, back-rest guiding means including at least one link operatively connecting said back-rest to one of said other links of said control linkage and operative during said first movement phase to maintain said xed angular relationship between said seat and back-rest, means for blocking movement of said seat-guiding means relative to said carrier link at the end of said first movement phase such that said seat andcarrier link are rigid relative to each other during said second movement phase and serve as one movable link of said control linkage, the links of said control linkage moving relative to each other during said second movement phase to increase the angular relationship between said back-rest and said seat, a leg-rest, and leg-rest mounting and actuating means operatively connected to said leg-rest and to said body-supporting means for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said rst movement phase.

7. A reclining chair according to claim 6 wherein said rear guide means includes la straight line linkage mechanism operative during said first movement phase to rapidly lower the rearward portion of said seat.

8. A reclining chair according to claim 6 wherein said rear guide means includes a toggle linkage mechanism operative during said first movement phase to rapidly lower the rearward portion of said seat.

9. A reclining chair according to claim 6 wherein said front and rear guide means each include a guide link pivotally connected Ito said seat and said carrier link.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,098 Ducrot Aug. 9, 1938 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 19152 2,796,918 Luckhardt June 2S, 1957 2,880,784 Navelle et al Apr. 7, 1959 2,918,109 Schliephacke Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 42,408 France Apr. 25. 1933 691,437 Germany May 27, 1940 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A BACK-REST AND SEAT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR RECLINING AND INCLINING MOVEMENTS RESPECTIVELY, AND MOUNTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS AND TO SAID SUPPORT AND MOUNTING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS FOR A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE FROM AN UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION TO AN INTERMEDIATE TILTED SITTING POSITION WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID BACK-REST AND SEAT AND FOR A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE TILTED SITTING POSITION TO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION WITH AN INCREASE IN THE ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID BACK-REST AND SAID SEAT, THE MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A CARRIER LINK, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID CARRIER LINK ON SAID SUPPORT AT A CARRIER PIVOTAL MOUNT ADJACENT THE REARWARD END OF SAID CARRIER LINK, SEATGUIDING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID SEAT ON SAID CARRIER LINK, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID BACK-REST ON SAID SEAT AT A BACK-REST PIVOT, A CONTROL LINKAGE INCLUDING SAID CARRIER LINK AND SAID LINKS WHICH REMAIN STATIONARY RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, THE LINKS OF SAID CONTROL LINKAGE BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT, SAID CARRIER LINK BEING STATIONARY DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE AND TOGETHER WITH SAID SUPPORT SERVING AS THE STATIONARY LINK OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, BACK-REST GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE LINK OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID BACK-REST TO ONE OF SAID OTHER LINKS OF SAID CONTROL LINKAGE AND OPERATIVE DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE TO MAINTAIN SAID FIXED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST, AND MEANS FOR BLOCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID SEAT-GUIDING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER LINK AT THE END OF SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE SUCH THAT SAID SEAT AND CARRIER LINK ARE RIGID RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE AND SERVE AS ONE MOVABLE LINK OF SAID CONTROL LINKAGE, THE LINKS OF SAID CONTROL LINKAGE MOVING RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE TO INCREASE THE ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID BACKREST AND SAID SEAT. 